R6Markii Autofocus touch and drag function works on screen, but not through viewfinder.

[JohnJeffay]

R6Markii Autofocus touch and drag function works on screen, but not through viewfinder. I use the little white square on the back screen and its perfect.  But I look through the viewfinder, the square is there, but it NEVER focuses. Have I missed something?

[shadowsports]

Greetings ,

I believe the feature you are looking for is screen and viewfinder display.  Please review this section in the R6 Mark II's manual.

https://cam.start.canon/en/C012/manual/html/UG-08_Set-up_0200.html

[p4pictures]

The touch screen works differently when using the viewfinder to when using the LCD screen to compose the photos. 

If you see the scene on the LCD, you can touch the screen to move the AF point. However when you look through the viewfinder then the touch screen is blank. To be able to use the touch screen to move the position of the AF point you need to enable Touch and Drag AF on the AF 4 menu tab, as it is off by default. Note you can use the joystick (multi-controller) that is located just above the top right corner of the LCD at any time using either the viewfinder or LCD.  

When you enable touch and drag AF you can choose the methods of positioning and the area that is active. I'll stay with the defaults, relative for positioning method and right for the active touch area. Now when looking through the viewfinder press the INFO button until you see the AF point in the viewfinder. Then while looking through the viewfinder you can use your thumb on the right side of the LCD to move the AF point around. You will not see anything on the LCD display.

Though personally I find it better to use the joystick (multi-controller), since my thumb falls more naturally to that spot on the body. 

[JohnJeffay]

Thanks Rick, I have enabled both screen and viewfinder. My particular issue is that through the viewfinder I see the little white square and can even move it, but it refuses to focus accordingly. Result - very blurry pix. 

[p4pictures]

If you are looking through the viewfinder, and can move the AF point, then you still need to press a button to make the camera focus. That button is normally a half press of the shutter button, or a press of the AF-ON button. 

This is different from the LCD, where the act of tapping on the screen to move the AF point also causes the camera to focus for you. If you have touch shutter enabled the camera will also take a photo once focus is achieved at the selected spot. 

[JohnJeffay]

Thanks Brian, i have an AF point in the viewfinder, I can move it around to my heart's content, it just doesn't focus. Is there a setting I've overlooked, or a poss firmware issue? It's a new camera, and I am certain it used to work. BTW, correct spellcheck (GB) is fine by me. 

[p4pictures]

Once you have moved the AF point to the intended location, which button do you press to make the camera focus at that chosen point?

If you want the camera to focus at the selected AF point position without pressing any button then you need to enable Preview AF on the AF 3 menu. This may significantly reduce battery life though.

[JohnJeffay]

Brian, you have cracked it. I turned off Preview AF for exactly the reason you mention - not realising it would impact drag and search through the EVF. Can I assign a button to switch it on and off?  Thanks again

[p4pictures]

Unfortunately the function to toggle preview AF is not possible to assign with custom buttons. One choice could be to add Preview AF to the green My Menu section so that you can readily find it.